CONCORD, N.C. — On Monday, after competing in this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will embark on a treasure hunt.

Earnhardt will fly to Germany in hopes of tracing his family's lineage, which dates to more than three centuries ago there. It will be the driver's first visit to Europe other than a 24-hour stay in Monaco to shoot a Jay-Z video in 2006.

"I've got some specific areas narrowed down I want to go see and some buildings I want to go see that I know my family was somewhat connected to," Earnhardt told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday during an appearance for Amp Energy. "They left Germany in 1744, so all this stuff we're going to see or get close to is more than 300 years old."

Amy Reimann, Earnhardt's girlfriend, will join the trip along with his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and brother-in-law L.W. Miller. They'll be guided by German native Martin Friedrich, who is in charge of information technology at JR Motorsports.

"I'm excited," Earnhardt said. "My sister is super nervous. She doesn't leave the house for that long of time without her kids, so she's super nervous. So I want to make sure she has a good time, and Martin is going to make sure we're enjoying ourselves and not insulting anybody or driving on the wrong side of the road."

Genealogy has been an ongoing hobby for Earnhardt, who became passionate about researching his family history in 2012. He located the gravesites of ancestors in North Carolina — relatives who were born as far back as 1809.

But to go further up the family tree, Earnhardt realized he'd have to travel overseas. The Earnhardt name — though pronounced differently ("Eh-ren-heart") and spelled various ways — has been found handwritten in German books and bibles.

The 'd' in Earnhardt was added when the family arrived in the United States, he said.

Earnhardt consulted a North Carolina genealogist to confirm some of his findings "so I don't go to Germany for no reason, or I'm standing in the wrong area or talking to the wrong people," he said with a chuckle.

The driver enjoys the process more than anything. When he plays video games, for example, it's not the actual game or race he likes as much as building a team from scratch.

"I like to manage," he said. "That's sort of a game, building your genealogy. Having to think and manage and remember and trace back all that stuff. It's fun. Really enjoyable."

In the meantime, Earnhardt spent Thursday in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven near Hendrick Motorsports before flying to Michigan. He unveiled a pink and black No. 88 car for the Michigan race — a fan-voted scheme that represents Amp's new Passion Fruit flavor — and drove the car into a personalized parking space outside the store.

He then answered fan questions and offered samples of several new Amp flavors (he was most excited to try the Strawberry Limeade).

Earnhardt said he found the appearance to be low-key and relatively relaxing because it was in a 7-Eleven parking lot.

"You don't know what you're going to walk into, so the best thing is to go in with this, 'Hey man, just roll with it,' attitude," he said. "That way you have more fun, your body language and your interaction with people is better."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to his No. 88 Chevrolet for the first time since missing the second half of the 2016 season with concussion symptoms during a test session at Phoenix International Raceway on Jan. 31, 2017.
Thomas Hawthorne, USA TODAY Sports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and girlfriend Amy Reimann attend the NASCAR Evening Series at Charlie Palmer Steak, part of the Champion's Week events that mark the end of the season.
Chris Graythen, Getty Images for NASCAR

Champion's Week in Las Vegas allows drivers to enjoy lighter moments and interact with fans. Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon did just that at After the Lap.
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Earnhardt spoke to students at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., one of five speaking engagements organized by sponsor National Guard this season. It's also another sign of change for the introverted star. "If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have OK’d this last year. I’d be like, ‘Are you crazy? I ain’t talking to all them kids,’ " he said.
Mike Barrett, National Guard

Earnhardt announced Oct. 11 he would sit out the next two races while he recovered from his second concussion in a six-week span. He admitted he raced at less than peak mental acuity, hoping his reflexes would hold up against dangerous conditions while driving nearly 200 mph.
Chris Graythen, Getty Images

Shown here celebrating with then-crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in 2008, Earnhardt parted ways with his cousin professionally this year, reshaping JR Motorsports. Eury had served as Danica Patrick's Nationwide crew chief since she joined the circuit in 2010.
John Raoux, AP

Earnhardt made the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the fifth time this season. His best points finish since NASCAR went to the Chase format in 2004 is fifth -- in 2004 and 2006.
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Redskins owner Dan Snyder walks with Earnhardt before a preseason game with the Buccaneers on Aug. 29. Earnhardt had crashed during a tire test session in Kansas the same day, suffering the first of two concussions.
Nick Wass, AP

The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet took over the Sprint Cup points lead July 29 after finishing fourth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It marked the first time Earnhardt had led the points in nearly eight years.
Jerry Markland, Getty Images for NASCAR

Many people in the sport thought the breakthrough was the beginning of a second-half season resurgence. Earnhardt said he thought the win 'would be all relief, but it wasn't relief at all. It was all excitement.'
Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images

In addition to bringing a trophy to Hendrick Motorsports with his first win in four years, Earnhardt got to ring the 'victory bell.' "I'm going to ring that damn thing as hard as I can," he said. "... I like seeing the smiles on everybody else's face. It's so awesome to see how many other people it affects. It feels good to be able to bring those guys what they deserve."
Davis Turner for USA TODAY Sports

Steve Letarte, left, became Earnhardt's crew chief at the beginning of the 2011 season. When they won, Letarte said: "... We are not crazy. What we have been trying to do has been working."
Brian Czobat, AP

Earnhardt first stepped out with girlfriend Amy Reimann at the 2011 NASCAR awards ceremony. He also brought her to the White House in April -- when President Obama honored Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart -- and kissed her in victory lane at Michigan.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images

For Earnhardt, 38, this season has been about personal growth. "I was just really nervous about what people’s perceptions would be, so I held a
lot of stuff in and just kept a lot of stuff private for a long time," he said.
Daniel Shirey, US Presswire